Manga Review: Real Girlfriend by Mao Nanami

Title: Real Girlfriend

Original Title: 3D Kanojo

Author: Mao Nanami

Artist: Mao Nanami

Year of Release: 2011

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Slice of Life

Status: Ongoing

Chapters (Translated in English): 22

Volumes & Chapters: 

5 Volumes Translation Completed

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

Tsutsui Hikari is an otaku, and he mostly avoids social life. Hikari has only one friend at school, who is also a social misfit, and he is mocked brutally by most of his classmates for being creepy and weird. One day, he ends up having to clean the school pool with Igarashi Iroha, who appears to be pretty much everything he hates in real-life girls. She skips school, has a blunt manner, doesn't have female friends, and seems the sort to be promiscuous. However, she is friendly to Hikari, and even stands up to the people who make fun of him. Hikari's bitterness and trust issues lead him to say pretty harsh things to Iroha, but she never dismisses him as creepy. After a while, it starts to look like Iroha may become his first real-life, 3D girlfriend! Will he be able to handle it?

My Thoughts

Review covers 20 chapters 

Hello, everyone and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Today I have a story, which is quite unique in its own way. The manga is still ongoing, well the translation that is, so I will make a second review when it finishes, though I am not sure about it, because I believe I will just make a small announcement that it has already ended. But well, if you want to start reading this interesting story, don’t wait for it to end, there are already many developments, and well volume 5 ended with a premonition for something new and troublesome to start.

Okay, now a small straying off the topic, but it’s not really that. It’s some useful information too. First of all, let me ask you a question! Are you new to manga or anime world? If yes, you’ll have some troubles with getting some characters, but don’t worry you’ll get him nevertheless. If you are an old fan, no problems for you, you’ll understand both Hikari and Iroha. Now, let me explain some stuff and you’ll move on. For us (anime and manga lovers) there are at least 2 words: 3D and 2D or in plain English real world and online world. If you know what I mean, then you already understand Hikari’s troubles. Meaning, he was a “normal” high school student, who enjoyed playing games and watching anime with his only friend until a day when he meets Iroha and all the troubles with real world start. They start to date, but Hikari or as Iroha calls him Tsuntsun doesn’t get girls, especially 3D girls. Will their relationship hold?

Though there is another catch, even if Iroha looks like an experienced girl, she’s as new to relationships as Tsuntsun is. And she put a time limit to their relationship half a year. She said that it was because of her dad being relocated, but I am not buying it. I really do believe there’s something wrong with her health. And if you pay attention to the first chapters, you might have the same thoughts as I do. Both Iroha and Tsuntsun are amazing characters. The story is mostly from Tsuntsun’s POV, ad there are many moments that cracked me up, especially how he googled jealousy and then still didn’t get what was wrong with Iroha. He’s a male character that you do not really see in a shoujo manga; wait is this manga really a shoujo one? Oh, it really is a shoujo. I believe the author wanted to show us another side of relationships and that we should not always discard real life like Tsuntsun did.

I believe you will enjoy this manga a lot. It is not the usual one and the eccentric sides are what makes it fun and interesting to read. Enjoy it to the fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more so you don’t miss your next favourite book or manga. Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

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